Articles / Makaleler by Berrak Kırbaş Akyürek
This paper aims to elucidate reflections of technological transition today through the 'unity' of... more This paper aims to elucidate reflections of technological transition today through the 'unity' of living and manufactured components of building design. Technological advances enable living organisms from algae to humans , and many more, to become useful tools to create interior and structural elements for buildings. Thus, designing with living organisms has become a growing phenomenon in architecture by transforming building components into 'biobuilding' components. In this paper, this phenomenon is critiqued through the bonds between the concepts of nature, technology, and building design, from contemporary studies to the highlights back in history. Overall, the paper gives architects insights on the envisioned future that presents a harmony between natural and building environment.
Bir kıyı kenti olan İstanbul'un rekreasyon alanlarının büyük ve önemli bir bölümünü kıyı bölgeler... more Bir kıyı kenti olan İstanbul'un rekreasyon alanlarının büyük ve önemli bir bölümünü kıyı bölgelerindeki kamusal açık alanlar oluşturur. Bu yeşil alanlar, metropol hayatının hızlı ve kaotik yapısı içerisinde kentlilerin nefes alabildiği sayılı aktivite alanlarıdır. Ancak, her geçen gün artan nüfus ve gerektirdiği yapılaşma, sınırlarını aşan İstanbul'da rekreasyon alanlarının geleceğini tehdit etmektedir. Marmara Denizi'nin kazandırdığı görsel temas ve suyla etkileşim potansiyeline karşın, İstanbullular tarafından benimsenmeyen, yani daha az sayıda kullanıcı-nın yararlandığı, hem suda hem de karada aktivitelere olanak vermeyen kıyı alanları yapılaşma ve özelleşme tehlikesi altındadır. Makalenin amacı, Maltepe-Kartal Sahil şeridi özelinde İstanbul kıyılarında kullanıcı kapsayıcılığını etkileyen fırsat ve problemlerin altını çizmek, kulla-nıcıların istek ve önerilerine dikkat çekmektir. Piknik aktivitesi, mangal yakımı ve dumanının sebebiyet verdiği çevre ve hava kirliliği ile kıyı alanlarının kullanımını etkileyen, fakat mevcut literatürde yeterince yer bulamayarak tasarım ve planlama aşamalarında göz ardı edilen güncel ve yerel bir problem olarak gözlemlenmiştir. Çalışma kapsamında, yargısal örneklem çerçevesinde karşıt görüşteki kullanıcıların problemin çözümüne ilişkin fikir ve önerileri anket ve mülakat yöntemi ile bir araya getirilmiştir. Sonuç olarak mekana ilişkin farklı görüş ve deneyimlere sahip kullanıcıların katılımıyla elde edilen bulgular, kıyı rekreasyon alanlarının yerel problemlere çözüm üreterek tasarlan-ması ve planlanması gerekliliğini vurgulamıştır.
Anahtar sözcükler: İstanbulluluk; kıyı alanları; kullanıcı kapsayıcılığı; Maltepe-Kartal Sahili; mangal problemi.
Local Problems on the Coasts of Istanbul: Maltepe-Kartal Coastline
Public open spaces in the coastal areas constitute important part of the recreational areas in İstanbul. These green spaces are a few of the limited activity areas where people may relax in the hectic and chaotic metropolitan life. However, the ever-increasing population and rising constructions threaten the future of the coasts of İstanbul. Despite the potential of Marmara Sea as bringing visual and tangible interaction with water, unused and unwelcome recreational areas in coastline where people cannot perform any activity neither on land nor on sea are in the danger of destruction and privatization. This paper aims to underline opportunities and treats that effects user inclusiveness in the recreational areas in the coasts of Istanbul with a research on user's requests and suggestions in Maltepe-Kartal Coastline. At this juncture, having picnic comes out as a local and critical problem, since air and environmental pollution caused by barbecue and the smoke affect the use of the space for different activities by different users. Although this problem reduces the user inclusiveness, it is rarely discussed in the existing literature, and mainly ignored in the planning and design process. In the scope of the work, the ideas of the users from opposite views are gathered together in the framework of judgmental sample technique by using survey and interview method. Consequently, the findings obtained from the participation of users from different point of views and experiences on the place highlight that the recreation areas in the coasts of İstanbul should be designed and planned by bringing solution to the local problems.
Keywords: Istanbulites; coastal areas; user inclusive; Maltepe-Kartal Coastline; barbeque problem.
Ebook: PLATE: Product Lifetimes And The Environment, 2017
Abstract: Planned obsolescence, a developed theory to maintain the continuity of production by co... more Abstract: Planned obsolescence, a developed theory to maintain the continuity of production by consuming, manifests itself in a large number of products since its first emergence. Through the use of substandard materials, the short-lived products ensure rapidity and continuity in consumption. Besides, the newer and different options attract desire of consumers to change their ‘obsolete’ products themselves. Thus, planned obsolescence becomes both a trigger and a consequence of the consumer society. In contrast to broad discussions on the scheduled lifespan of the products in economics and industrial design, a very small number of studies focus on the building lifetimes. Indeed, planned obsolescence is also a problem of architecture but surely has been carried within a different process and approach than the industrial products. The initial aim of this study is to point out the existence of planned obsolescence in architecture by exposing the ambiguity behind the determination of building demolitions (in other words consciously defined ‘expiration dates’). In the framework of the paper, an ongoing urban transformation project in İstanbul: Tarlabaşı Renewal project is examined as a case study. By doing so, the crucial variables that have effects on economic existences of the buildings are underlined in the specific case. Due to the constitution of a basic equation, this study tries to demonstrate the possibility of a developing quantitative research method on building lifetimes in replace of stereotypical assumptions. Consequently, it is envisioned that the subjectivity on the demolitions of buildings shall be controlled with the determination of prominent factors and their ratios in overall.
Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 2016 (Urban Planning and Architecture Design for Sustainable Development), 2016
Vernacular architecture has been an inspiration for innovations in environmental and socio-econom... more Vernacular architecture has been an inspiration for innovations in environmental and socio-economically sustainable design and planning. Especially in traditional housing, the intended climatic and environmental solutions within sustainable design have already been achieved by local implementations. In this sense, as the important examples on vernacular architecture, traditional Erzurum houses are examined in the scope of this work. Thus, ecological design clues in local examples are explored by drawing attention to natural materials, traditional construction techniques, ingenious design and spatial organization strategies required for comfort, satisfaction, and well-being of building occupants.
mimar.ist, 2016
This article is a critical assessment of the re-construction project of
Taksim Artillery Barrack... more This article is a critical assessment of the re-construction project of
Taksim Artillery Barracks in the place of Taksim Gezi Park. In the
meantime, it is an attempt to discuss the tendency of re-construction in
architecture in relation to the “ghosts” in architectural discourse. Rather
than the creation of unique designs, re-building of a replica is a
questionable issue in architecture. At this juncture, Jacques Derrida’s
insights on the ghosts may lead us to see the phenomena of replicas
from a different perspective. His philosophy of hauntology stresses the
desire of ghosts to re-unite with their bodies, as similar to the demands
upon the re-construction of non-existing buildings in architecture. On
this association, “ghost building” concept is developed thus, the replica
of Taksim Artillery Barracks, and other replica buildings are examined
within this theoretical framework. Consequently, it is aimed to explicate
the reasons behind the idea of resurrection of the “ghosts” of Taksim
Artillery Barracks, and also the cancellation of the project.
Proceedings / Tam metin bildiriler by Berrak Kırbaş Akyürek
Man-Made to Born-Made: Shifting Perspectives in Architecture, 2018
Background- Technological developments manifest themselves in a large number of products that hav... more Background- Technological developments manifest themselves in a large number of products that have been
infiltrating our daily life by reshaping our activities, habits, lifestyles and surroundings. Thus, technological products
and natural elements have been intertwined with an increasing momentum, while the boundaries in between nature
and technology are fading away. In this respect, the motivation of this study is to discuss upcoming technologies in
architecture that also represent the fusion in between nature and technology.
Purpose- New connections with nature can be established by empowering architecture with recent innovations.
Based on this main argument, the aim of the study is to seek for experimental approaches and applications in
architectural design and construction which assure visionary ways to integrate with nature.
Design/Methodology/Approach- This study is divided into two parts. The first part elucidates the philosophy of “Next
Nature” through the method of “Pyramid of Technology”. After the explanation of the philosophical base of the article,
the paper continues with the debate on architecture that centered around the question: How to grow a building? The
second part examines the methodology of “Guided Growth” and discusses with the recent cases in architecture.
Originality/Value- The added value of this work is to highlight unique and peculiar researches that proposes growing
of buildings instead of building.
Conclusion- As a conclusion, the selected cases indicate the potential of architecture to have further unity in between
born/nature and made/technology in the near future. Hence, this study underlines that common understanding on
the concept of nature should be reconsidered with its unity with technology, and the idea of a building to be a living
organism is yet to come.
Conference: 3th Conference on Interdisciplinary Research on Real EstateAt: Groningen, Netherlands, 2018
For many years, numerous innovative housing projects (IHPs) have introduced visions on the future... more For many years, numerous innovative housing projects (IHPs) have introduced visions on the future of
everyday life by foreseeing the success of various (smart) technologies at home. In general, these projects are
thought to be ‘futuristic, industrial, expensive and gadgetry’ (Mohammadi, 2010). However, many of the
experimental technologies of that time have already infiltrated into today’s daily activities. Therefore, the
motivation of this paper is to explore the integration (level) of technologies into the home environment. The
goal of this paper is to analyse the (level of) integration of technology promised in IHPs realized between the
period of 1920-2010. This is done by creating an overview of determined IHPs of which the innovative
technologies used are identified and analysed accordingly.
The analysis of integration is conducted by creating an overview of the existing IHPs. The sampling unit of the
study is determined to thirty-eight (38) IHPs, between the period from 1927 to 2008. The cases are examined
based on their following factors: ‘date’, ‘typology’, ‘goal’, 'initiator/designer' and 'prominent technological
novelty at that time'. Five typologies come forward in the IHPs: 'conceptual' (ideas transferred to paper),
'showcases' (open exhibition for visitors), 'experimental lab' (monitoring use/adjusted frequently), ‘living lab’
(monitored and inhabited, but short-term), and 'inhabited dwelling' (taken into production and used). Thus,
each IHP is examined individually by visually presenting its factors, and the IHPs in a shared typology are
discussed in relation to each other.
The novelty of this study is to synthesize the history of the IHPs through their contribution to the adaptation of
(smart) technologies in the home environment as well as in architectural design. The added value lies in the
insights of the factors of the cases and how they affect the integration of technology into daily life. In the
conclusion, the rate of the necessity of the technologies in the home environment is reconsidered and
discussed regarding the impact of IHPs on the architecture of today.
Wars are the most devastating events in the world, and always end up with the destructions of the... more Wars are the most devastating events in the world, and always end up with the destructions of the cities, deaths of several people and demolitions of the buildings. Even a war is completely over, its traumatic traces on people lives stay behind, and an intensive mourning spreads all over the towns like an infectious disease. At this point, along with two choices; replacement with new or replacement with old, architecture may have ability to rehabilitate society by compensating those destroyed in the wars. In both cases architects and city planners try to heal the mourning with canalizing the love of the loss into a new one. This study focuses on the recollective approach; the decision of replacement with old by bringing back to the copies of the demolished buildings into the future with the reconstruction of their replicas. This paper aims to discuss nostalgic attempts in architecture and it's the ability to replace loss memories with the reconstructions of bygone architecture. In this framework, several examples are analyzed and discussed into two categories; 'immediate' and 'ambitious' reconstructions. Consequently, this study emphasizes that after destruction (death) of a building, memory leaves behind in its place. As mourning captures architecture, through nostalgic approaches the building and so its belonging memories are replaced with their copies.
This paper is about haunted spaces. It inquires “conscious” attempts in architectural design whic... more This paper is about haunted spaces. It inquires “conscious” attempts in architectural design which transform non-places into haunted spaces via “place injection”. The main issue that inspires this study is the increasing number of the copies of historic and symbolic buildings. Rather than the construction of new designs, new buildings with old forms habitually attract people’s attention more. Since they have marketable ready made history and memory, they are easily adopted by any society due to their familiar appearances. In this regard, this study defines this market strategy that copying the image of the history and memory of the symbolic buildings as place injection. Besides, it explains place injected non-places within the framework of haunted space. The concept of haunted space is developed with the philosophy of hauntology by the French Philosopher Jacques Derrida. In order to explain more about haunted spaces and their "ghosts", the re-construction of replicas in different sites regardless from their original context, and also “nearly” replicas in the designs of hotels, shopping centers and leisure parks are examined within three categories; "use", "re-use" and "abuse" of the ghost of consumerism. As a conclusion, this study underlines that place injection comes out as a solution for non-places, and a market strategy to draw more attraction for economic purposes. However, place injection only makes those non-places undefined, undated copy space; a haunted space in between non-place to space.
Poster Presentations / Poster Sunumları by Berrak Kırbaş Akyürek
Docomomo_Türkiye Ulusal Çalışma Grubu Poster Sunuşları, Türkiye Mimarlığı'nda Modernizmin Yerel Açılımları, XI. Poster Sunuşları, 18-19 Aralık, Bolu, 2015
Conference Presentations by Berrak Kırbaş Akyürek
Beşiktaş, one of the historical coastal district of Istanbul, is on the very edge of a radical tr... more Beşiktaş, one of the historical coastal district of Istanbul, is on the very edge of a radical transformation because of an approaching “Beşiktaş Public Square Project”. Due to its location, presence on the coast, population, density, and distance to the other centers of Istanbul, the forthcoming decisions are critical to the region and also for the whole city. As the new project aims to pedestrianize the area by placing the vehicular traffic under the ground, public transportation system will be redesigned. Around the square new buildings will rise, while the existing buildings will be demolished. At this juncture, Beşiktaş and its square are about to change from top to bottom, but more importantly, Istanbulites have no participatory role in the decision making. This study foresees that through the determination of the perception of the existing conditions of Beşiktaş by local users, different and better projects and decisions can be suggested for the future of the region. The motivation of this paper is the lack of determination and clarity on the cognition of the Square, and it aims to discuss and review Beşiktaş Public Square from perspective, mind, and behavior of the users. In the framework of the study, firstly a brief literature review on the determination, concept, scope and evaluation criteria of a public square is conducted. Secondly, Beşiktaş square is described through the history of the region, existing situation and expected scenarios in the near future. In the analysis part, with cognitive mapping methodology, characteristics of the Square are discussed from the point of users. Cognitive map study with thirty (35) subjects is initially evaluated and categorized upon the five elements that Kevin Lynch defined as the images of the city. Moreover, findings are discussed with the four main criteria on public space that determined by Project for Public Spaces (PPS) group. The obtained results are digitized and represented with tables and graphs. In conclusion, findings of the research indicate the crucial issues from the perspective of the users on the approaching change in Beşiktaş. Thus, this study may help to develop comprehensive ideas and new suggestions on the Square by the involvement of public opinions.
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Articles / Makaleler by Berrak Kırbaş Akyürek
Anahtar sözcükler: İstanbulluluk; kıyı alanları; kullanıcı kapsayıcılığı; Maltepe-Kartal Sahili; mangal problemi.
Local Problems on the Coasts of Istanbul: Maltepe-Kartal Coastline
Public open spaces in the coastal areas constitute important part of the recreational areas in İstanbul. These green spaces are a few of the limited activity areas where people may relax in the hectic and chaotic metropolitan life. However, the ever-increasing population and rising constructions threaten the future of the coasts of İstanbul. Despite the potential of Marmara Sea as bringing visual and tangible interaction with water, unused and unwelcome recreational areas in coastline where people cannot perform any activity neither on land nor on sea are in the danger of destruction and privatization. This paper aims to underline opportunities and treats that effects user inclusiveness in the recreational areas in the coasts of Istanbul with a research on user's requests and suggestions in Maltepe-Kartal Coastline. At this juncture, having picnic comes out as a local and critical problem, since air and environmental pollution caused by barbecue and the smoke affect the use of the space for different activities by different users. Although this problem reduces the user inclusiveness, it is rarely discussed in the existing literature, and mainly ignored in the planning and design process. In the scope of the work, the ideas of the users from opposite views are gathered together in the framework of judgmental sample technique by using survey and interview method. Consequently, the findings obtained from the participation of users from different point of views and experiences on the place highlight that the recreation areas in the coasts of İstanbul should be designed and planned by bringing solution to the local problems.
Keywords: Istanbulites; coastal areas; user inclusive; Maltepe-Kartal Coastline; barbeque problem.
Taksim Artillery Barracks in the place of Taksim Gezi Park. In the
meantime, it is an attempt to discuss the tendency of re-construction in
architecture in relation to the “ghosts” in architectural discourse. Rather
than the creation of unique designs, re-building of a replica is a
questionable issue in architecture. At this juncture, Jacques Derrida’s
insights on the ghosts may lead us to see the phenomena of replicas
from a different perspective. His philosophy of hauntology stresses the
desire of ghosts to re-unite with their bodies, as similar to the demands
upon the re-construction of non-existing buildings in architecture. On
this association, “ghost building” concept is developed thus, the replica
of Taksim Artillery Barracks, and other replica buildings are examined
within this theoretical framework. Consequently, it is aimed to explicate
the reasons behind the idea of resurrection of the “ghosts” of Taksim
Artillery Barracks, and also the cancellation of the project.
Proceedings / Tam metin bildiriler by Berrak Kırbaş Akyürek
infiltrating our daily life by reshaping our activities, habits, lifestyles and surroundings. Thus, technological products
and natural elements have been intertwined with an increasing momentum, while the boundaries in between nature
and technology are fading away. In this respect, the motivation of this study is to discuss upcoming technologies in
architecture that also represent the fusion in between nature and technology.
Purpose- New connections with nature can be established by empowering architecture with recent innovations.
Based on this main argument, the aim of the study is to seek for experimental approaches and applications in
architectural design and construction which assure visionary ways to integrate with nature.
Design/Methodology/Approach- This study is divided into two parts. The first part elucidates the philosophy of “Next
Nature” through the method of “Pyramid of Technology”. After the explanation of the philosophical base of the article,
the paper continues with the debate on architecture that centered around the question: How to grow a building? The
second part examines the methodology of “Guided Growth” and discusses with the recent cases in architecture.
Originality/Value- The added value of this work is to highlight unique and peculiar researches that proposes growing
of buildings instead of building.
Conclusion- As a conclusion, the selected cases indicate the potential of architecture to have further unity in between
born/nature and made/technology in the near future. Hence, this study underlines that common understanding on
the concept of nature should be reconsidered with its unity with technology, and the idea of a building to be a living
organism is yet to come.
everyday life by foreseeing the success of various (smart) technologies at home. In general, these projects are
thought to be ‘futuristic, industrial, expensive and gadgetry’ (Mohammadi, 2010). However, many of the
experimental technologies of that time have already infiltrated into today’s daily activities. Therefore, the
motivation of this paper is to explore the integration (level) of technologies into the home environment. The
goal of this paper is to analyse the (level of) integration of technology promised in IHPs realized between the
period of 1920-2010. This is done by creating an overview of determined IHPs of which the innovative
technologies used are identified and analysed accordingly.
The analysis of integration is conducted by creating an overview of the existing IHPs. The sampling unit of the
study is determined to thirty-eight (38) IHPs, between the period from 1927 to 2008. The cases are examined
based on their following factors: ‘date’, ‘typology’, ‘goal’, 'initiator/designer' and 'prominent technological
novelty at that time'. Five typologies come forward in the IHPs: 'conceptual' (ideas transferred to paper),
'showcases' (open exhibition for visitors), 'experimental lab' (monitoring use/adjusted frequently), ‘living lab’
(monitored and inhabited, but short-term), and 'inhabited dwelling' (taken into production and used). Thus,
each IHP is examined individually by visually presenting its factors, and the IHPs in a shared typology are
discussed in relation to each other.
The novelty of this study is to synthesize the history of the IHPs through their contribution to the adaptation of
(smart) technologies in the home environment as well as in architectural design. The added value lies in the
insights of the factors of the cases and how they affect the integration of technology into daily life. In the
conclusion, the rate of the necessity of the technologies in the home environment is reconsidered and
discussed regarding the impact of IHPs on the architecture of today.
Poster Presentations / Poster Sunumları by Berrak Kırbaş Akyürek
Conference Presentations by Berrak Kırbaş Akyürek